Method and Apparatus for Hockey Training

ABSTRACT

A target and magnetic material are provided. The target has a size sufficient to facilitate training a trainee in shooting a hockey puck at a specific location in a hockey goal. The target is further provided with an edge face with a mounting surface for receiving the magnetic material. The target is removably secured to a structural frame member defining a hockey goal by positioning the edge face with the magnetic material adjacent to a structural frame member comprising the hockey goal. Methods of use of the target are also disclosed.

RELATED APPLICATION DATA

This application claims the benefit of provisional application Ser. No. 60/887,882, filed Feb. 2, 2007.

BACKGROUND

The disclosure relates to a target used for hockey training. The target is sized and shaped in a manner to assist in training a trainee in shooting a hockey puck toward a specific area in a hockey goal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a hockey goal with four removably securable targets attached as set forth in the disclosure mounted on structural frame members of the hockey goal adjacent an opening of the hockey goal;

FIGS. 2A-2C show views of a removably securable target mounted in the upper right-hand corner of the hockey goal of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3A-3C show views of a removably securable target mounted to the upper left-hand corner of the hockey goal of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 4A-4B show views of a removably securable target mounted to the lower right-hand corner of the hockey goal of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 5A-5B show views of a removably securable target mounted to the lower left-hand corner of the hockey goal of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 6A-6C comprise a sequence of isometric views of the upper right-hand corner target illustrating steps of the method comprising inserting the magnetic material into the side edge face pocket of the upper right-hand corner target; and

FIG. 7 shows packaging for the targets comprising a blister pack and graphics illustrating use of the targets, including their assembly and installation on a hockey goal.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a hockey goal 10 with targets 20, 22, 24, 26 releasably mounted thereon. The targets are mounted in each corner of the hockey goal and are sized and shaped in a manner to assist in training a trainee in shooting a hockey puck toward a specific area in a hockey goal. As shown herein, all of the targets are generally square in shape. Other shapes may be used including circles, triangles, hexagons. As shown herein, the targets mounted in the upper corners of the hockey goal may have one corner 28 beveled to facilitate fitting the target in a corner of the hockey goal, for instance, a goal having some curvature between the cross bar and the post. Although the targets are mounted in the corners adjacent the opening of the hockey goal, the targets may be mounted in less than all of the corners and may be mounted in other locations of the goal.

As shown in FIG. 1, the hockey goal 10 is made from a tubular steel material having a circular cross-section; however, other cross-sections may also be used including rectangular. The hockey goal may be made from steel or other material having magnetic properties. Magnets may also be provided on specific areas on the frame members comprising the hockey goal to facilitate removably securing the targets to the goal. For instance, if the goal is made from a PVC plastic material (for instance, for street hockey), magnetic material may be affixed to the cross bar and posts of the hockey goal in areas where it is desired to mount the target.

The targets 20,22,24,26 are made from foam with a heavy duty vinyl covering. The material chosen for the targets is lightweight but with sufficient impact strength to resist damage from the impact of hard rubber hockey pucks or other playing objects, for instance, balls.

FIGS. 2A-2C show a removably securable target adapted to be affixed to the upper right-hand corner of the hockey goal. A top edge face 30 is adapted to abut the cross bar of the hockey goal and the right side edge face 32 is adapted to abut the right post of the hockey goal, thereby holding the target in place in the upper right-hand corner of the hockey goal.

The top and right edge faces 30,32 of the target are formed with pockets 34 and magnetic material 36 (e.g., two magnetic blocks in FIGS. 6A-6C) is inserted into the pockets. The magnetic material may be removably insertable into the pockets such that after use of the target, the magnetic material may be replaced if damaged or removed from the pocket and stored in a separate container for safekeeping. Alternatively, a recess may be provided on the edge face and the magnetic material may be held in place with a system of tabs on the uppermost edges of the recess to retain the magnetic material in the recess, thereby allowing a thin strip of magnetic material to be slightly bent and inserted underneath the tabs into the recess. Alternatively, the magnetic material may be held on the edge face with glue or other adhesives.

As shown herein, the attachment surface of the magnetic material that is to be abutted against the structural frame members of the hockey goal is generally flat. The attachment surface may also be formed in a concave manner to cooperate with the circular cross-section of the frame of the goal. Alternatively, pliable magnetic material may be inserted in the pocket and formed in a concave manner in the pocket to allow removably securing the target to a frame member of a goal with a circular cross section with more than line or point contact as is provided with a planar or flat material.

The pocket 34 has three edges 44 (FIGS. 6A-6C) secured to the edge face 32 of the target with an open edge 46 that allows access into the pocket. To facilitate identification of the pocket, the pocket may be color coded. To removably secure the magnet material 36 in the pocket 34, the pocket open edge 46 is provided with a closure mechanism 48, for instance, a hook and loop material such as Velcro™ or a snap button.

The rear face of the target is provided with a strap 50 to prevent the target from dropping to the playing surface in the event it is dislodged by the impact of a shot. The free end of the strap may be provided with a hook 52 to attach directly to the netting of the goal. Alternatively, the free end of the strap may be provided with a closure mechanism to allow the free end of the strap to be directed through netting or around the structural member of the goal and attached to itself. The length of the strap may be adjustable to accommodate goals with different heights. This allows the user to adjust the length as necessary so that the upper targets only fall a short distance and do not hit and possibly dislodge the lower targets.

FIGS. 3A-3C show the target 26 mounted in the upper left-hand corner. Its construction is virtually the same as the previously described upper right-hand corner target, except the left edge face rather than the right edge face is provided with the pocket for the magnetic material to allow the target to be removably secured to the cross bar and left post. Also, the upper left hand corner rather than the upper right hand corner 28 is beveled to allow mounting the target to the cross bar and left post.

FIGS. 4A-4B and 5A-5B show the lower right-hand and lower left-hand corner targets 22,24, respectively. The construction is similar to the previously described upper corner targets with the exception that only one side edge face is provided with the pocket for magnetic material. Further, the lower right-hand and lower left-hand corner targets need not be provided with a strap or a chamfered or beveled corner.

FIGS. 6A-6C comprise a sequence of isometric views of the upper right-hand corner target illustrating steps for inserting the magnetic material into the side edge face pocket of the upper right-hand corner target. In operation, the closure mechanism is released thereby opening the pocket 34 and allowing the insertion of the magnetic material 36 therein. After insertion, the pocket is sealed by securing the closure mechanism 48. The process is repeated for the each pocket on each target. The target is then releasably secured to the frame of the goal by abutting each edge face containing the magnetic material to the frame of the goal. For the upper targets, the top and side edge faces are abutting to the cross bar and post, and the free or loose end of the strap 50 is attached to the netting behind the target with the hook 52. The location of the strap's attachment and the length of the strap may be adjusted as necessary to prevent the upper targets from hitting the lower targets when the upper targets are dislodged by a shot. The same procedure is followed on the lower targets, except the side edge faces are abutted against the posts with the target bottom face resting on the ice or other playing surface.

After installation of the target on the goal, the user of the training aid is then directed to shoot at the target. In the event the user dislodges a target with a shot, the target may be reinstalled in its position on the goal as described above.

FIG. 7 shows a kit 60 comprising the targets 20,22,24,26 and indicia 70 showing use of the targets. The indicia 70 may comprise graphics showing use of the targets. The indicia 70 may comprise advertising for the targets and may include videos, DVDs, or other displays illustrating use of the targets and training techniques to be used with the targets. The indicia may also include instructions on assembly of the target on the hockey goal including instructions on inserting the magnetic material in the pockets.

In view of the foregoing, it will be seen that the several advantages of the invention are achieved and attained. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. As various modifications could be made in the constructions and methods herein described and illustrated without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the foregoing description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative rather than limiting. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments. 

1. A method comprising: providing magnetic material; providing a target having a size sufficient to facilitate training a trainee in shooting a hockey puck at a specific location in a hockey goal, the target having an edge face with a mounting surface adapted to receive the magnetic material; mounting at least a portion of the magnetic material on the mounting surface of the edge face; and removably securing the target to a hockey goal by positioning the edge face adjacent to a structural frame member defining the hockey goal.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the target is removably secured to the hockey goal in an area adjacent an opening of the hockey goal.
 3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of shooting a hockey puck at the target.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the target has a strap extending from its rear face.
 5. The method of claim 4, further comprising releasably securing the strap to the hockey goal.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the structural frame member of the hockey goal is formed from a magnetic permeable material.
 7. The method of claim 6, further comprising removably securing the target directly to the structural frame member of the hockey goal.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the mounting surface of the edge face comprises a pocket.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of mounting at least a portion of the magnetic material on the mounting surface of the edge face comprises inserting the at least portion of magnetic material in the pocket.
 10. The method of claim 8, wherein the pocket comprises a closure device.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of mounting at least a portion of magnetic material on the mounting surface of the edge face comprises accessing the pocket via the closure mechanism.
 12. The method of claim 1, further comprising securing a second portion of the magnetic material to a structural frame member of the hockey goal before positioning the target edge face adjacent to the structural frame member defining the hockey goal.
 13. A method comprising: providing a product comprising packaging supporting a target, the target having a size sufficient to facilitate training a trainee in shooting a hockey puck at a specific location in a hockey goal, the target having magnetic material associated therewith, the target having an edge face with a mounting surface adapted to receive the magnetic material, the magnetic material being sufficient to allow the target to be removably secured to a structural frame member defining a hockey goal by positioning the edge face adjacent to the frame member; and promoting the sale of the product via indicia on the product, at least a portion of the indicia indicating that the target is useful in training a trainee in shooting a hockey puck toward a specific area in a hockey goal, the portion of the indicia also indicating that the magnet material is used to mount the target to a hockey goal, the portion of the indicia being viewable from outside the product.
 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the portion of the indicia comprises text and graphics.
 15. A combination comprising: packaging; a target supported by the packaging, the target having magnetic material associated therewith, the target having a size sufficient to facilitate training a trainee in shooting a hockey puck at a specific location in a hockey goal, the target having an edge face with a mounting surface adapted to receive the magnetic material, the magnetic material being sufficient to allow the target to be removably secured to a structural frame member defining a hockey goal by positioning the edge face adjacent the frame member; and indicia indicating that the target is useful in training a trainee in shooting a hockey puck toward a specific area in a hockey goal, the indicia also indicating that the magnet material is used to mount the target to a hockey goal, the indicia being viewable from outside the product.
 16. The product of claim 15, wherein the target has a strap extending from its rear face.
 17. The product of claim 15, further comprising: additional magnetic material adapted to be secured to a structural frame member of the hockey goal.
 18. The product of claim 15, wherein the mounting surface of the target edge face comprises a pocket.
 19. The product of claim 18, wherein the pocket comprises a closure device.
 20. The product of claim 15, wherein the indicia comprises text and graphics. 